Variability of laccase activity in the white-rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus

The production of laccase in liquid cultures of the white-rot fungusPleurotus ostreatus was highly variable. During the first days of cultivation, the relative variability was as high as 80–100% and it decreased to 30% in the course of cultivation. The main source of variability was assumed to be the independent development of enzyme activity in individual cultures. Cultures with high laccase production showed also high production of the other ligninolytic enzyme—Mn-dependent peroxidase. The variability was probably due to the source of inoculum, deactivation of the enzyme in culture liquid and genetic variations among the cultures. Variability of laccase activities was lower during solid-state fermentation on wheat straw and during the growth in nonsterile soil.     

Kinetic differences of purified laccases from six Pleurotus ostreatus strains

AIMS: Enzyme kinetics of purified laccases from six different Pleurotus ostreatus strains were determined in the oxidation of syringaldazine, guaiacol and ABTS. METHODS AND RESULTS: Significant differences in the kinetic constants were found. Catalytic activity (kcat) ranged from 19 to 941 U mg(-1) for syringaldazine, from 18 to 1565 U mg(-1) for ABTS, and from 4 to 44 U mg(-1) for guaiacol. The apparent affinity constants (KM) also showed significant differences between the different strains, from 12 to 52 micromol l(-1) for syringaldazine, from 8 to 79 micromol l(-1) for ABTS, and from 0.46 to 6.61 mmol l(-1) for guaiacol. No differences were found either on the effect of increasing concentrations of organic solvent (acetonitrile) or on the activity pH profile. The temperature profile was the same for all the P. ostreatus strains, except for the IE8 strain, which seems to be more sensitive to temperature. The kinetic and stability data from the six P. ostreatus strains were also compared with those obtained from other white rot fungi, Coriolopsis gallica and Trametes versicolor, showing clear differences. CONCLUSION: The different P. ostreatus isolates showed different kinetic constants. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The different enzymatic properties of laccases from various P. ostreatus strains should be considered for a potential industrial or environmental application.     

Growth and laccase production by Pleurotus ostreatus in submerged and solid-state fermentation

Pleurotus ostreatus showed atypical laccase production in submerged vs. solid-state fermentation. Cultures grown in submerged fermentation produced laccase at 13,000 U l⁻¹, with a biomass production of 5.6 g l⁻¹ and four laccase isoforms. However, cultures grown in solid-state fermentation had a much lower laccase activity of 2,430 U l⁻¹, biomass production of 4.5 g l⁻¹, and three laccase isoforms. These results show that P. ostreatus performs much better in submerged fermentation than in solid-state fermentation. This is the first report that shows such atypical behavior in the production of extracellular laccases by fungi.     

Optimization of some variables that affect the synthesis of laccase by Pleurotus ostreatus

The influence of initial pH, concentration of yeast extract, inducer, type of enzyme releaser and buffer system on the composition of a medium for laccase production by Pleurotus ostreatus DM-1513 was investigated. A 2⁵ full factorial experimental design was initially employed to evaluate the effects of these variables on the enzyme synthesis. Data analysis showed that low pH and high yeast extract concentration values, as well as the absence of both an inducer and a buffer system, had positive effects on the secreted enzyme levels, whereas the type of enzyme releaser did not have a significant effect. The highest levels of laccase activity (489–540?U/l) were obtained in optimization experiments using media with initial pH between 6.0 and 6.5 and yeast extract concentrations of 0–0.25%     

Comparison of three fungal laccases from Rigidoporus lignosus and Pleurotus ostreatus: correlation between conformation changes and catalytic activity

The conformation changes in solution of three fungal laccases in different environmental conditions were examined by circular dichroism (CD) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. CD measurements indicate that the secondary structure of proteins depends slightly on the pH or ionic strength, though the presence of salt could interfere in the molecular recognition process between substrates and enzymes. The enzymes, however, are highly destabilized by prolonged exposure to low pH or high temperature. The observed unfolding of the proteins coincides with their inactivation and, in some cases, with precipitation. On the other hand, these conditions do not determine the disruption of the geometric arrangement of their metal centres, and this fact suggests that these centres represent the more stable core of the proteins.     

Yellow laccase from the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1: Purification and characterization

Yellow laccase was isolated from a solid-phase culture of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1 and characterized. It is a copper-containing enzyme with a molecular weight of 64 kDa. Its lacks an absorption spectrum maximum at 610 nm, a result which is characteristic of fungal laccases and corresponds to the presence of type I copper atoms. The optimum pH values for the enzyme are determined. They prove to be 7.0 for syringaldazine, 8.0 for pyrocatechol, and 4.0 for 2,2′-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. Kinetic parameters (K _m and V _max) for oxidation of these substrates are determined. The effect of inhibitors (SDS, 2-mercaptoethanol, and EDTA) on the activity of the enzyme is studied. It is shown that yellow laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus D1 in the absence of a mediator oxidizes anthracene to anthraquinone to 95%.     

Yellow laccase from the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1: purification and characterization

Yellow laccase was isolated from a solid-phase culture of the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1 and characterized. It is a copper-containing enzyme with molecular weight 64 kDa. Its absorption spectrum lacks the maximum at 610 nm, characteristic of fungal laccases and corresponding to type I copper atom. The optimum pH values for the enzyme were determined. They proved to be: 7.0 for syringaldazine, 8.0 for pyrocatechol, and 4.0 for 2,2'-azine-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol. Kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax) for oxidation of these substrates were determined. The effect of inhibitors (SDS, 2-mercaptoethanol, and EDTA) on the activity of the enzyme was studied. It was shown that yellow laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus D1 oxidized anthracene to anthraquinone by 95% without any mediator.     

Recombinant expression of Pleurotus ostreatus laccases in Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heterologous expression of Pleurotus ostreatus POXC and POXA1b laccases in two yeasts, Kluyveromyces lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was performed. Both transformed hosts secreted recombinant active laccases, although K. lactis was much more effective than S. cerevisiae. rPOXA1b transformants always had higher secreted activity than rPOXC transformants did. The lower tendency of K. lactis with respect to S. cerevisiae to hyperglycosylate recombinant proteins was confirmed. Recombinant laccases from K. lactis were purified and characterised. Specific activities of native and recombinant POXA1b are similar. On the other hand, rPOXC specific activity is much lower than that of the native protein, perhaps due to incomplete or incorrect folding. Both recombinant laccase signal peptides were correctly cleaved, with rPOXA1b protein having two C-terminal amino acids removed. The availability of the established recombinant expression system provides better understanding of laccase structure–function relationships and allows the development of new oxidative catalysts through molecular evolution techniques.     

Manganese peroxidase isoenzymes produced by Pleurotus ostreatus grown on wood sawdust

The white rot basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus produces two manganese peroxidase (MnP) isoenzymes when grown in solid stationary conditions on poplar sawdust, whereas a lower production of these same enzymes is observed on fir sawdust. Addition of Mn(2+) to poplar culture resulted in a threefold increase of MnP activity; the same addition to fir culture was able to increase tenfold the MnP production. The two MnP isoenzymes (MnP2 and MnP3) were purified from P. ostreatus poplar culture. The isoenzymes differ in their pI values, molecular masses, and N-terminal sequences. MnP3 has the same N-terminal sequence as that of a P. ostreatus MnP previously reported. Both isoenzymes exhibit Mn(2+)-dependent and Mn(2+)-independent peroxidase activities when tested on phenolic substrates. The gene coding for the new isoenzyme MnP2 was cloned and sequenced and the promoter region analyzed. Furthermore, the chromosomal localization of all known P. ostreatus genes was determined.     

Extracellular acid proteases produced by Saccharomycopsis lipolytica.

Saccharomycopsis lipolytica CX161-1B produced at least three extracellular acid proteases during exponential growth in medium containing glycerol, Difco Proteose Peptone, and mineral salts at pH 3.4 (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, Mich.). Little extracellular acid protease activity was produced with glutamic acid as the sole nitrogen source, somewhat higher levels were obtained with peptone, and much higher levels were obtained with Difco Proteose Peptone. The relative amounts of the three proteases varied during growth on Difco Proteose Peptone, which suggested that the proteases were not coordinately regulated. The proteases were purified to near homogeneity (as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) by use of ultrafiltration, gel filtration, and DEAE-Sephacel and hydroxylapatite chromatography. Protease I had a molecular weight near 28,000, an isoelectric point of pH 4.9, and a pH optimum of 3.5. Protease II had a molecular weight near 32,000 and a pH optimum of 4.2. Protease III had a molecular weight near 36,000, an isoelectric point of 3.8, and a pH optimum of 3.1. All three proteases were glycoproteins; proteases I, II, and III contained 25, 12, and 1.2% carbohydrate, respectively. The proteases were inhibited by pepstatin and 1,2-epoxy-3-(4-nitrophenoxy) propane and were largely insensitive to diazoacetyl-DL-norleucine methylester and to compounds which inhibit the serine, sulfhydryl, or metallo-proteases.     

Heterologous expression of heterodimeric laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus in Kluyveromyces lactis

Among the laccases produced by the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus, there are two closely related atypical isoenzymes, POXA3a and POXA3b. These isoenzymes are endowed with quaternary structure, consisting of two subunits very different in size. The POXA3 large subunit is clearly homologous to other known laccases, while the small subunit does not show significant homology with any protein in data banks. To investigate on the singular structure of the POXA3 complex, a new system for recombinant expression of heterodimer proteins in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis has been set up. A unique expression vector has been used and the cDNAs encoding the two subunits have been cloned under the control of the same bi-directionally acting promoter. Expression of the large subunit alone and co-expression of both subunits in the same host have been demonstrated and the properties of the recombinant proteins have been compared. Clones expressing the large subunit alone exhibited always notably lower activity than those expressing both subunits. In addition to the activity increase, the presence of the small subunit led to a significant increase of laccase stability. Therefore, a role of the small subunit in POXA3 stabilisation is suggested.     

Cloning and sequencing of a laccase gene from the lignin-degrading basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus.

The gene (pox1) encoding a phenol oxidase from Pleurotus ostreatus, a lignin-degrading basidiomycete, was cloned and sequenced, and the corresponding pox1 cDNA was also synthesized and sequenced. The isolated gene consists of 2,592 bp, with the coding sequence being interrupted by 19 introns and flanked by an upstream region in which putative CAAT and TATA consensus sequences could be identified at positions -174 and -84, respectively. The isolation of a second cDNA (pox2 cDNA), showing 84% similarity, and of the corresponding truncated genomic clones demonstrated the existence of a multigene family coding for isoforms of laccase in P. ostreatus. PCR amplifications of specific regions on the DNA of isolated monokaryons proved that the two genes are not allelic forms. The POX1 amino acid sequence deduced was compared with those of other known laccases from different fungi.     

Classical breeding in Pleurotus ostreatus: a natural approach for laccase production improvement

White-rot basidiomycetes, the most common wood-rotting organisms, are characterized by their ability to produce extracellular oxidative enzymes, among which laccases are regarded as promising catalysts for many biotechnological applications. A significant obstacle to the exploitation of laccase-based bioprocesses is the large amounts of enzyme required. In this study the issue has been addressed by applying a classical breeding approach to increase laccase production yields in the white-rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus. Starting from two different P. ostreatus varieties, three higher laccase-producing hybrids have been obtained by crossing selected compatible monokaryons. The three selected strains increased the titre of parental strains up to four fold, reaching an expression level of up to 100 000 U/L. One hybrid exhibited a more complex isoenzyme pattern, illustrating the potential of classical breeding to differentiate protein expression.     

Production of laccases by Pleurotus ostreatus in submerged fermentation in co‐culture with Trichoderma viride

Aims: To evaluate the production and stability of laccases by Pleurotus ostreatus in liquid co‐cultures with Trichoderma viride as a function of infection time and agitation rate. Methods and Results: Pleurotus ostreatus cultures were infected with T. viride spores at 30 and 48 h. Maximal laccase volumetric activity was seen after 48 h (control cultures) or 72 h (co‐cultures) of cultivation time. Only the cultures infected at 30 h showed an increased laccase volumetric activity compared to control cultures. After maximal laccase volumetric activity value was reached, a sharp decrease in it was observed in control cultures. Co‐cultures exhibited a comparatively lower loss of activity. The influence of P. ostreatus and/or T. viride on the stability of laccase volumetric activity and isoenzyme pattern was evaluated. Trichoderma viride induced changes in the laccase isoenzyme pattern. Agitated cultures increased biomass growth and specific productivity threefold and sevenfold, respectively, to the static cultures. Conclusions: The laccase volumetric activity is very likely the result of the balance between biosynthesis and degradation/biotransformation rates occurring during the cultures. The individual presence of P. ostreatus or T. viride in the culture negatively affected the volumetric laccase activity. Significance and Impact of the Study: The evaluation of culture parameters that could influence Trichoderma–basidomycetes interaction and laccase production during submerged fermentation has not been reported. This study showed how laccase production in co‐cultures of P. ostreatus and T. viride was influenced by the infection time and agitation/oxygenation conditions.     

Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on laccase production by white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1

The effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the dynamics of laccase production by the fungus Pleurotus ostreatus D1 under conditions of submerged cultivation on Kirk's medium has been studied. It has been shown that phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene actively induce this enzyme, whereas fluorene and anthrecene had a smaller effect. Addition of Mn2+ ions to cultivation medium elevates the laccase activity twofold and more in the presence of all the studied PAHs. Electrophoresis under nondenaturing conditions demonstrates induction of additional laccase species by xenobiotics. Ligninolytic peroxidase activities are undetectable under the conditions used.     

Characterization of laccase activity produced by Cryptococcus albidus

This study deals with the characterization of laccase enzyme activity produced by Cryptococcus albidus. Industrial wastes like effluent and sludge are complex mixtures of a number of chemicals. These chemicals can interfere with the proper functioning of the enzymes used for bioremediation. Thus, it is important to study the effect of such interfering solvents, detergents, metal chelators, and other chemicals on enzyme activity before industrial applications. Laccase showed maximum activity at pH 2.5 and temperature 20-30°C when ABTS was used as a substrate. The enzyme followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics: K(m) was 0.8158 mM and V(max) was 1527.74 U/mg. Laccase showed good thermostability with a half-life of 81 min at 25°C, 77 min at 35°C, 64 min at 45°C, 36 min at 55°C, and 21 min at 65°C. There was no effect of sodium dodceyl sulfate (SDS) (0.1-1.0%) and EDTA (0.1-0.5%) on laccase activity. Sodium azide and 2-mercaptoethanol showed complete inhibition of laccase activity at 0.1% concentration. At lower concentrations of acetone and acetonitrile, laccase was able to maintain its activity. However, the activity was completely inhibited at a concentration of 50% or above of acetone, methanol, 1,4-dioxan, and acetonitrile.     

不同木质纤维素诱导对糙皮侧耳液体发酵产漆酶活性的影响

以2株糙皮侧耳Pleurotus ostreatus栽培菌株为材料,研究在添加木屑、玉米芯和棉籽壳3种农林废弃物后,对其液体发酵产漆酶活性的影响。结果表明,不同糙皮侧耳菌株的漆酶活性具有极显著的差异(P0.001),仅第3天和第9天差异显著(P0.05);而不同培养基条件对漆酶活性也产生了极显著的影响(P0.001)。此外,不同菌株在产漆酶能力上存在一定的差异,在不同培养基条件下所表现出的差异也不一致。相比之下,在含棉籽壳的完全培养基中漆酶活性高于含木屑或玉米芯的完全培养基,说明棉籽壳对不同糙皮侧耳菌株产漆酶能力的诱导作用更强。